Oxbridge 2020 (8th thread)

[DadDadDad]

A thread to continue discussing entry to Oxbridge in October 2020 (less than nine months away ). All welcome, although this obviously will be of most interest to those with DS or DD holding an offer, and wanting to find a bit of support.

All too soon, 13 August will come over the horizon. Until then, ask questions... share experiences... discuss news and stats... write a poem... (we did briefly have some poetry on a previous thread).

With huge thanks to @HugoSpritz and predecessors for previous threads.

Terf surely it's worth querying? I think you said your DS doesn't go to a top indie or anything? (I may have that wrong). The experience of hobbema's DT shows that Durham offers can be sent out with errors (worryingly).

My daughter went to Cambridge and I think she had to put it first. They would not accept her if she had used them as an insurance.

Forget the above post. I’m new to posting here it is in reply to the thread above.

Apologies all! Turns out it's only one A-star and two As after all. I was on holiday when it arrived and there was some miscommunication about several things when I got home! But thank you all for the concern and advice, I really appreciate everyone's time throughout the whole thread(s)

Anyway....he's decided to be proactive and has emailed Admissions asking if there's any leeway in college allocation. His grandad was at DS's preferred college so he's asked if that's a possibility (grandad died last year). No begging, just asking. Worst they can do is say no...

😅 Terf!
Would be interested to know if your DS gets anywhere with changing his college.

Terf glad to hear about the single A*. It would be great if he was allowed to swap but people seem to think that doesn't happen unless a disability is involved. As a Durham grad myself and with a DS currently (very happily) there I'd say that I can't emphasize too strongly how little college matters. The centre of gravity has shifted so far towards the Hill, with the library for almost every subject up there now (in my day humanities were on Palace Green and only science was up on the Hill), and all the new colleges. Stevenson looks pretty good. This thing about catered/ non catered is the only thing which would irk if I was allocated the opposite to what I'd asked for, if that was central to my decision. Best of luck to him on that front though, and let us know the outcome. It's just such a gorgeous place, and you only live in for a year - seems a shame to over focus on college.

We'll all be waiting to hear Terf in case he is the lucky one to persuade them. At least Stevenson College is actually built!

Also, when we discussed this here earlier (or was it on the Durham thread - I've been on both ), if Durham is your insurance and you end up there, it's apparently quite common to be reallocated to another college.

DS has been allocated South College which is self-catering, the opposite of what will suit him - well it will be, because it is one that they are still building. All the more incentive to meet his Oxford offer!

Dd is in exactly the same position Dadx3

Thanks chaps. I'll keep you posted! TBH I'm no longer really involved other than to give my opinion if asked. It's all his choice and he WILL achieve, no matter what, so wherever/whatever/whenever floats his boat is ok by me

Sorry to gate crash this thread.

There is a student at Oxford University diagnosed with Coronavirus. I'm trying to find out their college and I know some of you have DCs studying at Oxford.

My son is studying there and is currently at a BOP in a sweaty, crowded beer cellar. Just hoping it's not his college (Trinity).

Thanks Aurea. Bops ideal for spreading of disease unfortunately. My Oxford DS is down in London tonight at another crowded venue. Will you let me know if you have more info? I know there's nothing one can do, but even so.

A gentle reminder to everyone that if you were to post the same thing on mumsnet and on a certain Facebook group, it would enable a large group of people (over 5K in the Facebook group and many are on here) to put a face and real name to your username.

I believe it may be New College. There is a chorister at New College prep school who has also come down with it.

www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18284047.new-college-school-oxford-closed-due-coronavirus-concerns/b

That article is about a private school in Oxford not Oxford University college.

Yes but there is a student at the university as well...

www.ox.ac.uk/news-and-events/coronavirus-advice

I can't stress the importance enough of reporting facts and not speculation. The current toilet roll nonsense can almost certainly be traced back to social media posts. There are enough toilet rolls people!

Speculating about which college doesn't help anyone and a 'guess' on a site like this quickly becomes a 'fact'. Take your steer from the authorities not a bunch of chatty strangers.

That article is about a private school in Oxford not Oxford University college.

Try here: www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18289870.coronavirus-oxford-university-tests-positive-covid-19/

That's direct sandy..... But they've been told no need to isolate at the moment.

DD4 has asthma. I'm a bit edgy about her getting it. Usually I'm fairly relaxed about this sort of stuff but it sounds quite worrying for asthmatics.

@MarchingFrogs - yes the university has disclosed its in the university but not which college. I'm sure @goodbyestranger has a credible source but I don't believe things until I have a reliable/official source.

www.asthma.org.uk/about/media/news/Coronavirus/
Not aware that Corona virus any more of a risk than any other respiratory virus for an asthmatic and children and young adults less affected than older groups.
My DS asthmatic and on immune suppression so am anything but blasé . Stay calm!